Latest – Review by PCWorld (added 25 August’08)
Casio Exilim EX-Z80 features:
- 8.1 megapixel
- 3x optical zoom
- 2.6 Inch LCD
- ISO 64 – 1600
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Read More Reviews – (updated 25 August’08)
PCWorld has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 and they write -
“Color was very good and easy to alter with the camera’s white balance and filter settings, photos lost sharpness at their outer edges, artifacts popped up along high-contrast edges, and a bit of noise was evident in shots taken at ISOs above 200.”
Rating: 
PCMag has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 and they write -
“In lab tests, the EX-Z80 had an excellent boot-up time of 2.11 seconds. Recycle time (2.84) was good, and shutter lag (0.45 seconds) average. Both barrel distortion (in wide-angle shots) and pincushion distortion (at the telephoto end) were apparent.”
Overall, Review was Favorable: 
Cameras.co.uk has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 and they write -
“When you take into account the size and small price tag that the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 comes with it would be harsh to be too hard on this camera. It must be one of the cheapest pocket cameras on the market. Picture quality may not be perfect, but the camera can still take a decent snapshot.”
Rating:
StevesDigicams has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 and they write -
“The Casio Exilim EX-Z80 is a stylish and incredibly easy to use ultra-compact 8-megapixel digicam. With “easy mode” it is one of the easiest to use cameras on the market.”
Overall, Review was Favorable:
DigitalCameraReview has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 and they write -
“Shutter performance is good, but not spectacular. Image and color quality are good, and the EX-Z80 does stand out somewhat from the pack in affording the user a nice palette of image quality adjustments when shooting in auto mode.”
Overall, Review was Favorable:
TrustedReviews has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 and they write -
“The Casio Exilim EX-Z80 is a remarkable camera in many ways. Not only is it the smallest 8-megapixel camera on the market, it has a number of advanced technical features not found on rival models. Design, build quality, performance and handling are all very good, and the AF system is amazing, but these attributes are somewhat let down by rather sub-standard image quality.”
Rating:
Sample Photos
[Sample Photos at Cameras.co.uk]
[Sample Photos at StevesDigicams]
[Sample Photos at Trusted Reviews]
Specifications
[Official Casio Specifications]
Press Excerpt
The EXILIM Zoom EX-Z80 is a digital camera that features a very compact, tightly formed design which offers the functionality needed to easily take photos and shoot movies, yet also offers a design feel conducive to carrying it around almost like a fashion accessory. It is available in six body colors — pale pink, vivid pink, green, blue, black, and silver. With this model, Casio has sought to create both functionality and design that are “easier” and “more fun.”
A smallish, smart form
This camera’s smart form, with height kept to a minimum, makes it compact enough to be cradled in the palm of the hand. The body features a finely brushed finish, and the contrast with the mirror finish on the ring surrounding the lens accentuates the camera’s scintillating presence.
8.1 million effective pixels and a 3x optical zoom lens
Thanks to the use of the EXILIM Engine 2.0 high-performance image processing module, which makes full use of Casio’s proprietary technologies, users can enjoy taking beautiful pictures with very low noise with this high performance 8.1 megapixel model.
Auto Shutter function automatically records the moment of a smile or the instant when hand shake ceases
Using motion blur detection technology, the camera can automatically take a photo at the instant when hand shake or subject movement ceases. Users can also automatically capture the moment of a smile, the instant when subject movement due to panning ceases, or the moment when their own face fills the frame as they point the camera towards themselves.
iTunes-compatible H.264 video
The camera uses the H.264 video standard, which utilizes the AAC audio codec widely enjoyed in Apple’s iPod, etc. It is also possible to record movies in an appealing wide format. The camera also features a Movie Button which makes movie recording easy.
Fun and easy to use focusing frames
In addition to the usual rectangular focusing frame found on the LCD monitor, users can also choose other playful design, such as a heart shape, for the focusing frame. When the subject is crisply in focus a clear heart shape is displayed, but when the image is not in focus the heart shape breaks up. Not only fun, this is a useful tool that makes it easier than ever to get the focus right.
Face detection function* finds faces of family members and focuses on them
If the faces of the people who users want to be in sharpest focus are prerecorded, the camera can use face detection technology to simultaneously detect up to ten faces. When it recognizes any of the prerecorded faces, it prioritizes them when determining correct focus and exposure. This feature can be useful when ordinary face detection technology would have trouble focusing as desired, such as when a number of people are lined up for a portrait and the picture-taker’s family members are at the rear of the group.
*The face detection feature includes a face detection technology provided by OKI’s face image processing engine, FSE (Face Sensing Engine).
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The most stand-out feature in this camera is MPEG-4 + H.264 video compression which means your SD card will hold hours more video than competing digital cameras. Even cameras that cost many times more only feature “Motion JPEG” which is junk by comparison.
Also this camera features 848 x 480 (UHQ Wide/HQ Wide, 30 fps), 640 × 480 (UHQ/HQ/Normal, 30 fps), 320 × 240 (LP, 15 fps) for H.264 compressed videos.
In a nutshell, this is a great value for users that want “average” 8 megapixel picture quality but way above average video capture in a tiny ultra compact camera.
But if image quality is paramount and you don’t need decent video capture, then Canon or Panasonic ultra compact cameras are smarter choices. But compared to Casio Exilim cameras, other cameras’ “Motion JPEG” video capture eats up space like crazy and is usually limited to 640×480.